Archive
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Chelmsford: Hero hurt in clash
A have-a-go hero was injured when he stopped would-be thieves from snatching a woman's handbag. The man in his 20s went to help the woman who was walking along Chelmsford High Street on Tuesday night. The attackers then left the woman alone and turned
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Braintree: £35 night on town wins £6,000 prize
A reveller had the chance of becoming an easy rider after winning a £6,000 Harley Davidson with a £35 nightclub ticket. But, instead of revving up for some New Year motoring of the 880cc two-wheeled variety Andrew Cerrino,18, of Ennerdale Avenue, Braintree
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Braintree, Coggeshall: Driver killed in accident named
The driver of a Bedford pick-up truck who died in a head-on collision with a lorry on the A120 has been named. Frederick Charles Townsend, 45, formerly of Lyons Hall Road, Bocking, near Braintree, was certified dead at the scene after being cut from the
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Tennis round-up: Icy finish to Cup game...
Ice stopped the final set of the Ladies Winter Cup second round tie between Hockley and Wickford. But Wickford had already caught a cold as they had lost too many sets for it to matter. Pat Townsley and Nicola Edwards set up the win by beating Hockley
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Golf round-up: McEvoy is aiming high Down Under...
Leading Thorpe Hall golfer Richard McEvoy, whose ambition is to play in the Great Britain team defending the Walker Cup against the United States next year, is preparing for the new season with overseas action. He flew off to Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday
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Brentwood: Face of an attacker
Police have issued an e-fit of a youth they want to talk to in connection with an unprovoked assault on a Brentwood teenager. The attack took place at 2.30pm on New Year's Eve, leaving the 13-year-old victim lying unconscious in a pool of blood near Priests
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South Essex: Hiding in bungalow heaven...
TOM KING takes a look at a new book on the villages of Hockley, Hullbridge and Hawkwell, which reveals a curious history hiding behind the Southend suburbs Like oysters or yodelling hamsters, the Hockley-Hullbridge area is something of an acquired taste
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Southend, Westcliff: Family's joy as missing girl returns
The family of teenager Tracey Curtis-Wiggins have described their joy and relief at finding her safe and sound. Tracey, 15, ran away from her home in Blenheim Chase a week ago after a family row. Dad Gary, mum Debbie and six-year-old sister Sophie heard
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Colchester: Soldiers to keep peace in Balkans
Troops from Colchester are going to Bosnia to spend six months as peacekeepers in the war-torn country. Almost 200 soldiers from 28/143 Battery, 19 Regiment Royal Artillery will serve with the Nato stabilisation force (SFOR) in Sanskimost in central Bosnia
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Billericay: Battle over housing plan
Angry Billericay residents are ready to fight plans for a housing development in Perry Street which one opponent has described as 'monstrous'. Campaigners claim the four to five bedroomed properties planned would constitute a serious overcrowding of the
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Brentwood: Call for speed reductions
Anxious residents around Brentwood's Weald Park Way have demanded cuts in the speed limit after traffic accidents in the area. The call came as William Pawsey, a 74-year-old local man, fought for his life in Oldchurch Hospital after suffering extensive
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Soccer: Ducks feather nest at Gulls' expense
Canvey Island's inability to kill off inferior opposition continues to hit their bid for a high placing in their first season as a Ryman League Premier Division club. Since becoming only the second team this term to overcome leaders Dagenham and Redbridge
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Soccer: Newcastle bid for ex-U's star denied
Newcastle United have denied rumours they are about to make a £5m move for former Colchester United midfielder Mark Kinsella. The U's have a sell-on clause for the player they sold to the Addicks for £150,000 three years ago. But they are unlikely to
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Soccer: Faults in Iron prove costly
Two goals up with only five minutes to go Braintree were poised to secure their first win in 16 games on Saturday, after a much-improved display at Cressing Road. But all their good work was undone by a lapse of concentration which enabled Romford to
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Soccer: Tagged Croft makes comeback for Ipswich
Ipswich Town defender Gary Croft was expected to make his comeback for the reserves yesterday afternoon. Croft was only released from prison on Monday but was expected to play for the second string against Gillingham at Portman Road. It was thought the
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Essex: Your chance to join the specials
Police are holding open evenings to encourage local people to join Essex Special Constabulary. Special constables are volunteers who give up a few hours of their time each month to provide support to the police. New recruits should be aged between 18
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Ongar: Rebecca goes for gold
A student from Ongar joined young people from all over the country at St James's Palace to receive a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at a ceremony attended by Prince Philip. Rebecca Bowring, 21, of Longfields, had previously won bronze and silver awards
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West Mersea, Witham: Car design ace dies aged 76
Essex sports car designer Trevers Walklett has died aged 76. He launched the Ginetta and Dare motor companies with his brother Ivor and son Mark. The brothers began as agricultural manufacturers and developed their racing dream from a hobby. Trevers joined
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Chelmsford: Nikki stages variety show for Helen's cancer fund
Brave Nikki Rollason has celebrated her mother's life by organising a fun-filled variety show. Nikki, a pupil at Chelmsford County High School For Girls, persuaded her fellow Year 12 students to take to the stage last night to raise money for the Helen
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Harold Hill: Meningitis cases spark fear
Anxious Harold Hill parents are demanding that health chiefs do more to protect their children from the killer virus meningitis, in spite of expert assurances that there is no epidemic. The call comes as a seven-year-old pupil from Brookside Junior School
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Harold Hill: Making a huge splash
A swimming pool, which has battled to stay open despite low funding and vandalism, has won a national award against all odds. Central Park Swimming Pool, Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, won the Gold Pool Award 1999 in recognition of its commitment to safety
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Harold Hill: Driver scares off mugger
A passing motorist scared off a man with 'bulging eyes' who pushed a woman to the ground last week. The suspect assaulted the woman as she was walking past the new BAC showroom on Ashton Road, Harold Hill on her way to work, shortly after 6.30pm on Tuesday
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Soccer round-up: Chelmsford Invitation Football League
In Division One top of the table Intersports could only manage a draw with second from bottom Selcombe Athletic. Tim Casady's goal gave Selcombe the lead before Paul Knock equalised to make the score 1-1 at the interval. Lee Osbourne's strike regained
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Soccer: Hazel's new deal boosts Dragons
Wivenhoe Town player-manager Julian Hazel has given the club a huge boost by signing a two-year extension to his contract with the Dragons. Hazel was in the second year of a three-year deal, but signed the extension at the club's Broad Lane ground after
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Soccer: Southend reserves tamed by Lions
Southend United's second-string crashed to defeat at Roots Hall against a strong Millwall line-up in the Avon Insurance Combination League. The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes yesterday when midfielder Bobby Bowry's right-flank cross was miskicked
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Clacton: 'Yuk! I nearly swallowed a beetle!'
Stunned Audrey Miller told today how she nearly swallowed a beetle while drinking a can of Coke. Mrs Miller was sipping the can of Coca-Cola at home when she realised the fizz had gone from her drink. She then realised something was in her mouth and discovered
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Shoebury: MP hails new garrison plan
A scheme to develop a marina village at the site of Shoebury barracks has been welcomed as "exciting and interesting" by MP Sir Teddy Taylor. The scheme, which has been put forward by one of five bidders, aims to create a new marina village on the site
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Colchester: Drunk soldier froze to death
A teenage soldier died from hypothermia after falling asleep drunk in a field, an inquest heard. Carl Johnson, 17, was found wearing just a short sleeved top and trousers even though it was bitterly cold. Mr Johnson had joined the Army less than a year
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Essex: Big success for bouncers register
A pioneering county-wide scheme for registering door staff in pubs and clubs has been hailed a success by councillors and police. Since November 1998, door staff registering with one Essex authority have been able to work in the area of any other authority
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Essex: Flu bug outbreak jams phone lines
A round-the-clock health helpline has, at times, been receiving double the usual number of calls during the flu outbreak. During one 24-hour period, nurses and call-takers at NHS Direct in Essex dealt with 900 calls from the public. Now health bosses
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Soccer: No bad language in West Bergholt!
Footballers and fans using a village playing field have been warned to mind their language during matches. Parish councillors have told clubs that players and supporters using Lorkin Daniel Field in West Bergholt must hold their tongues in future. The
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Braintree: Bid to set up centre for elderly
Plans to open a daily drop-in centre for the elderly in Braintree are to be looked into by the Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency. The idea for the centre was first suggested by members of the Braintree Pensioners Action Group about four months
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Tolleshunt Knights: Flag was just for William
Tory leader William Hague singled out Essex people's jingoism - but the hotel he hailed for flying the St George's flag said they only put it up for his visit. Mr Hague used it as an example of increased nationalism in England when he spoke on a radio
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Colchester: Comic Jim drops in for Tory talk
True-blue comedian Jim Davidson will be making an unusual appearance - entertaining Essex Conservatives. The controversial performer, once criticised for his racist and sexist jokes, will be the guest speaker at a posh fundraising dinner. He will entertain
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Colchester: Drop in town centre crime
Crime in Colchester town centre has dropped below rates for the rest of the borough for the first time ever. It used to have the highest crime rate but the number of offences has dropped significantly since the council-run security cameras started rolling
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Dovercourt: Breakfast at school
A pioneering scheme which will see children attend school for breakfast is to be launched at a primary school. Chase Lane Primary School in Dovercourt is introducing its breakfast club from Monday and will be the first in the area to do so. The idea is
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Darts: Bobby loses title chance
Ardleigh darts king Bobby George bowed out of the Embassy World Professional Championships at Frimley Green in style. George, 54, put up a brilliant fight before finally succumbing by three sets to two to number two seed Ronnie Baxter in a tie-break last
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Soccer: Newman natters...
Refs make me see red The weekend just gone was a bad one for referees, littered with controversial incidents at all different levels of the game. We all know the men in the middle are under pressure to do a good job, but some of the things that happened
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Netball: Anyone for netball?
Netball enthusiasts will be able to hone their skills under a new scheme at Colne Community School. With the aid of a Sports Council grant Colchester Netball 2000 have set up special coaching schools to develop young players' techniques. Vanessa Osbourn
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Tennis: Billericay the winter winners
Billericay Tennis Club's ladies and mixed teams are celebrating, after both won Chelmsford Winter League titles. Competing in the Chelmsford Winter Knockout Cup, they both triumphed in their respective finals. The ladies beat Wickford with the successful
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Soccer: Mid Essex non-league round-up...
Fixtures Senior Division: Havering Nalgo v Byron Red Star 'A'; King Harold v Collier Row Colts; Prince Albert v Elm Park; Romford Town v Harold Hill. Division One Cup Preliminary Round: Bentley Alexandra v Broxhill. Division One: Burntwood v Old Cooperians
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Ongar, North Weald: Doctors lead NHS shake-up
Family doctors and nurses in the Ongar and North Weald district are to act as pioneers in a far-reaching health care revolution. They will usher in what has been described as an era of "high touch, low tech" care in the National Health Service. For Epping
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Braintree: Trucker quizzed over road death
A trucker from Braintree was arrested after a lorry overturned, crushing a car driver to death in Suffolk. The accident happened at around 8.20am on Monday on the A140, north of Bury St Edmunds. David Pierce, 30, from Norwich, was crushed when the lorry
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Mid Essex: Wedding fever for millennium
Wedded bliss could be put on hold for hundreds of couples - because of a millennium boom in marriages. Chelmsford looks set to be the wedding capital of Essex this year, with many couples having to wait to plight their troth. Wedding venues across the
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Billericay: Teenager hid cannabis in bra
A Billericay teenager hid herbal cannabis in her bra when visiting a prisoner at Highpoint Jail, Suffolk, and planned to pass it over through a kiss, a court heard. Katie McPherson, 19, narrowly escaped a custodial sentence herself when she appeared before
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Billericay: I'm in the clear insists MP
Billericay MP Teresa Gorman today said she was confident she would be cleared of any wrongdoing amid fresh allegations about her business affairs. The controversial Tory MP spoke out after being invited to appear before the Commons' standards and privileges
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Basildon: Fury at disabled parking charges
Disabled visitors to Basildon's new flagship shopping complex are being caught out by being charged to park. A policy to charge orange badge holders to park in Westgate Park's disabled bays was introduced this week, sparking fury among those who assumed
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Essex: Churches wage crime fight
Churches across Essex are being fortified in the fight against crime. Vicars are having alarms and security lighting installed at parish churches in a bid to beat the vandals who target the historic and holy buildings. Even sacred objects like chalices
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Harold Hill: Crazed gang torch cars
A gang of crazed car criminals scorched back to their former haunt on a troubled Harold Hill estate, leaving a trail of torched vehicles in their wake. A van, five cars, and a motorbike were totally destroyed by fire on Clematis Close on the Briar Road
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Southend: Why did Mum have to die?
A grieving family today demanded an inquiry after a mother died following a routine operation to remove a splinter of glass from her foot. Mrs Farhat Raja, 40, went to Southend Hospital for routine day surgery and within hours was fighting for survival
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Soccer: Whitton salutes players
When Colchester United fought back to win 5-4 against Bristol Rovers almost 5,000 fans at Layer Road knew they were watching something special. Games don't come much better than this, and those who missed the match should be kicking themselves for missing
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Soccer: Ref course to kick off in Laindon
Budding 'men in black' can get their chance of official FA qualification when a referee course gets underway next week. The ten-week course, staged by the Basildon Referee Association, begins on Tuesday at Laindon Community Centre. Spaces are still up
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Rugby: Dream team for Southend
Club captain Chris Dyton believes Southend have taken the first step towards turning around their disappointing season following the appointment of First XV coaching partnership Dave Masden and Alan Miles. The two men replace Gary Jones, who left earlier
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Rugby: Billericay romp to a 62-0 win
Old Cooperians had called off their last match scheduled against Billericay in November, and Billericay were none too impressed when they were advised on Friday night that Old Coops again wanted to cancel. As it turned out, on Saturday, Old Coops turned
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Brentwood: 'Disturbing' rise in drink-driving
Police have revealed a "disturbing" increase in the number of motorists suspected of drink-driving on the roads of Brentwood during Christmas. Brentwood traffic police carried out 760 breath tests during this year's Christmas clampdown, with 22 motorists
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Soccer round-up: BUKTA Southend & District League
Saturday sees Billericay Town entertain Hereford United at New Lodge in an F.A.Trophy third round tie. The former Football League side now operate in the Conference and were recently seen on television's Match of The Day programme, playing Leicester City
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Soccer: Roots Hall return for Royce?
Charlton Athletic shot-stopper Simon Royce today offered to help Southend United out of their goalkeeping crisis. The former Blues custodian, who played eight Premiership games for the Addicks last season, has just returned to training following a lengthy
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Soccer: Colchester thriller is in demand
Colchester United have received an unprecedented demand for copies of their match video after their 5-4 thriller against Bristol Rovers. Commercial manager Brian Wheeler said more than 40 orders have already been placed for the tape of Saturday's Second
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Basketball: Leopards prepare for Storm
The adidas London Leopards return to the Brentwood Centre on Sunday when the Derby Storm are in town. The match is scheduled to tip-off at 5pm. The Storm are currently third in the Northern Conference, and have a 5-0 record against Southern Conference
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Soccer round-up: Southend Junior League
Danny Siggins was very much the boy for Ashingdon as they started the new millennium with a bang in the Southend Junior League Under-14 B Division. For he went nap with five of the goals as Ashingdon Boys pulled off their biggest win of the season, 15
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Tendring: Lucky escape for bus pupils
Youngsters had a lucky escape yesterday when their school bus went off the road and hit a telegraph pole. About 50 pupils from Tendring Technology College were on the double decker bus when the accident happened at about 8.30am. The bus had picked up
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Tennis: Tournament triumph for Clearview duo
Clearview players Melanie Hall and Gavin Bradford both triumphed when the Centre hosted its LTA Ratings tournament over the Christmas period. Both won their respective singles titles and collected 'Whirlpool' microwave ovens from the tournament sponsors
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Basketball: Tigers tamed at home
On the evidence of Sunday's display at the Brentwood Centre, the Leopards are beginning to turn their season around. The Leopards took revenge for their defeat in the Uniball Trophy quarter-final and posted a warning to other teams in the Southern Conference
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Westcliff: Siege man used bar to halt police
A young man went berserk as he held police at bay in a dramatic house siege. He threatened to attack them with a 5ft long metal bar, a court heard. Leo Imarhiagbe swung the bar from side to side and warned the startled officers: "Come and get me. Come
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South Essex: A127 repair work to start in March
Highway engineers are hoping to start major repair works on the busy A127 on March 1. There had been concerns workmen would not be able to begin the overhaul until the end of March. But today highways area manager south Roger Gardner said the £1 million
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Westcliff: Three cheers for record panto
Celebrities and staff at Westcliff's Cliffs Pavilion cracked open the champers after hearing ticket sales for this year's pantomime had reached a record high. When the production of Jack and the Beanstalk ends on Sunday, more than 58,000 people will have
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Laindon: Burglar high on heroin
A burglar could not remember breaking into a house and stealing £600 in goods - because he was too high on heroin. Alistair Elsey, 22, was eventually caught after leaving specks of blood in the home he ransacked while the family were on holiday. The blood
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North Weald: Campaign's flying start
The campaign to erect a permanent memorial to the people of North Weald who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain has got off to a flying start. Enthusiastic support by flying veterans, aviation enthusiasts and villagers comes as an impression of
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Stapleford Tawney: Man, 34, dies in pigeon cull shooting
A pigeon shoot ended in tragedy at Stapleford Tawney at the weekend. A 34-year-old man, was fatally injured by a shotgun blast while he was out culling pigeons with a friend near the village airfield on Saturday. He was later named as Tony Hall, of Waltham
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Colchester: Pupils oppose merger
Placard-waving children who have joined the fight to stop their schools being merged greeted education chiefs last night. Three hundred parents, pupils, governors, and staff from Monkwick infant and junior schools met Essex County Council officers and
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Wix, Colchester: Toby's joy at new wheelchair
A five-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer has been given a new lease of life thanks to generous Colchester pub regulars. Little Toby Smith, of Bradfield Road, Wix, is getting around thanks to his first wheelchair which gives him a new outlook on life. Toby
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Stansted: Korean Air ban urged
Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles has called on the Government to ban Korean Air from operating in British air space until the airline has achieved major improvements in its safety record. Speaking in the wake of December's Stansted air disaster, which
